Birds of Chemainus

222 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Chemainus (British Columbia) since 2010, across 63,837 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco and Spotted Towhee.

Chemainus is backyard-bird country: 70% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee and Chestnut-backed Chickadee make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

19 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk.

Records peak in December and are lowest in November — about 3.0 times as many in the busiest month. Part of that is birds (migrants and breeding arrivals), part is people: more birders are out in good weather, so treat the curve as activity, not a census.

Saltair, 3 mi to the north-west, has a similar number of species on record (218 against 222).

Daylight runs from 16 h 12 min at midsummer to 8 h 14 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:25 AM in mid-April and 5:10 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Dark-eyed Junco

  White proso millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn

• Spotted Towhee

  Millet · Sunflower chips

• Chestnut-backed Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet

• Anna's Hummingbird

  Sugar water: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water

• European Starling

  Suet · Cracked corn

• Saltair3 mi north-west · 218 species
• Crofton5 mi south-east · 248 species
• Ladysmith7 mi north-west · 234 species
• Maple Bay8 mi south-east · 263 species
• Duncan9 mi south · 256 species
• Ganges11 mi south-east · 217 species